OldTimer
Banned
Since Windows XP was released, we've had a great way to recover from those occasional 'Ooooops!' that seem inevitable, the more you mess around with your OS.
The feature is known as "System Restore" and it's turned ON by default when Windows installs. And unless some #^$% turns it off, for whatever sick reason, it's right there to help you when something either you or a Windows Update had done to mess up your OS.
The 'System Restore' app is found in 'Programs>Accessories>System Tools -- System Restore'.
I use it often enough that I just keep a shortcut to it on my desktop.
As careful as I am, at least once a week, some @#%^ thing messes up my PC and I have to use System Restore to set things right again. NO data is affected, although a few electrons are inconvenienced in the process.
My System Restore points are so VERY valuable to me that I force a new Restore Point to be created every time I turn on the PC, using a little .reg script in my Startup folder.
Since some things can disable System Restore or even delete the Restore Points, I use "Erunt AutoBackup" also running in the Startup folder to make a backup of my Registry, every time I boot up my computer. I may get a lot of backups that I'll never need, but it's a lot better than having NO backup when I do need one.
Likewise, to take care of the "AWshitz" that go way beyond an "Ooooops", I do a weekly Ghost backup of my entire C: drive.
That backup can be to another internal drive, an external drive or even a DVD (x3). That's my disaster recovery.
There is NO Recovery partition on my PC, since I built the PC myself and installed the OS myself.
I think I've used Factory Restore twice in the past ten years. Once on a Toshiba Laptop where the owner started the setup, got confused and turned the PC off. When I got there to do the setup, after I'd already told him to not even turn it on till I got there, the little PC was in a constant boot loop. That was one of those "Awshitz" that I mentioned earlier.
I had to use the Factory Restore DVD that came with the PC to get back to where I needed to be, to finish the install.
Dang! I wish people would just do what I tell them! Life would be so much simpler. Eh?
* That factory restore DVD from Toshiba, was actually a Ghost backup of the factory setup for that Laptop.
The second time I used it was just recently, when I inherited an HP Slimline PC with a blown power supply.
After I replaced the power supply, Windows Vista did not want to boot. Since I really needed to wipe out all the previous owner's STUFF anyway, I just did a Factory Restore from the Recovery partition, on the hard drive, and it was like a brand new PC again.
In conclusion, using Factory Restore is only for Technicians or Geeks who need to make a PC like new again, or where Windows has gotten corrupted beyond repair, or for total novices who don't know how to do anything else. It can be almost like using dynamite to crack a walnut.
Windows 7 does have some built in "Repair" function, but it's not always sufficient. Ergo, the need for making frequent backups.
But once Win-7 is properly set up and maintained, a full recovery should not be required. But then, 'Schmitz' happens. Eh?
Cheers Mates!
😎
The feature is known as "System Restore" and it's turned ON by default when Windows installs. And unless some #^$% turns it off, for whatever sick reason, it's right there to help you when something either you or a Windows Update had done to mess up your OS.
The 'System Restore' app is found in 'Programs>Accessories>System Tools -- System Restore'.
I use it often enough that I just keep a shortcut to it on my desktop.
As careful as I am, at least once a week, some @#%^ thing messes up my PC and I have to use System Restore to set things right again. NO data is affected, although a few electrons are inconvenienced in the process.
My System Restore points are so VERY valuable to me that I force a new Restore Point to be created every time I turn on the PC, using a little .reg script in my Startup folder.
Since some things can disable System Restore or even delete the Restore Points, I use "Erunt AutoBackup" also running in the Startup folder to make a backup of my Registry, every time I boot up my computer. I may get a lot of backups that I'll never need, but it's a lot better than having NO backup when I do need one.
Likewise, to take care of the "AWshitz" that go way beyond an "Ooooops", I do a weekly Ghost backup of my entire C: drive.
That backup can be to another internal drive, an external drive or even a DVD (x3). That's my disaster recovery.
There is NO Recovery partition on my PC, since I built the PC myself and installed the OS myself.
I think I've used Factory Restore twice in the past ten years. Once on a Toshiba Laptop where the owner started the setup, got confused and turned the PC off. When I got there to do the setup, after I'd already told him to not even turn it on till I got there, the little PC was in a constant boot loop. That was one of those "Awshitz" that I mentioned earlier.
I had to use the Factory Restore DVD that came with the PC to get back to where I needed to be, to finish the install.
Dang! I wish people would just do what I tell them! Life would be so much simpler. Eh?
* That factory restore DVD from Toshiba, was actually a Ghost backup of the factory setup for that Laptop.
The second time I used it was just recently, when I inherited an HP Slimline PC with a blown power supply.
After I replaced the power supply, Windows Vista did not want to boot. Since I really needed to wipe out all the previous owner's STUFF anyway, I just did a Factory Restore from the Recovery partition, on the hard drive, and it was like a brand new PC again.
In conclusion, using Factory Restore is only for Technicians or Geeks who need to make a PC like new again, or where Windows has gotten corrupted beyond repair, or for total novices who don't know how to do anything else. It can be almost like using dynamite to crack a walnut.
Windows 7 does have some built in "Repair" function, but it's not always sufficient. Ergo, the need for making frequent backups.
But once Win-7 is properly set up and maintained, a full recovery should not be required. But then, 'Schmitz' happens. Eh?
Cheers Mates!
😎
